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My new workshop for the OnConference

Writing Craft

In October, I’m leading an interactive workshop at the Writer Unboxed OnConference called “Losing the Plot: Writing by the Seat of Your Pants.” It’s the workshop I’ve always wanted to see at a conference, and when I gave it at Pike’s Peak Writers in May, the feedback was excellent.

One attendee called it “group therapy for pantsers.” I’m not a therapist, but I agree. There’s value in feeling seen, and in an industry that pushes plotting really hard, those of us who don’t/can’t plot often feel like we’re in the minority or doing it wrong. Spoiler: we’re not!

I’m excited about the OnConference. Therese Walsh of Writer Unboxed has put together an incredible line-up of writers and industry folks, including literary agent and craft expert Donald Maass (teaching new material from his upcoming book), novelist and playwright Desmond Hall, and editor and authenticity reader Grace Wynter.

Not only that, but the format is different from the typical all-day cram fest. The sessions are spread out over several weeks—and recorded—so you don’t have to drop everything else in your life to attend. The platform is open 24/7 to allow writers to virtually hang out at tables, and even make their own tables by topic.

Sound good? Click the image below to check it out. Discounted early bird registration ends August 31st, so don’t delay if you plan to sign up!

Author In Progress: your writing friend in a book

Writing Craft, Writing Life

Author in Progress coverAuthor In Progress: A No-Holds-Barred Guide to What It Really Takes to Get Published is officially out today from Writer’s Digest books! This is the book I wish I’d had when I first started writing (and still need today). It’s like a writer friend in written form, always there with exactly the advice you need, when you need it.

More than fifty authors from the Writer Unboxed community contributed chapters to this book. Mine is called “Light It Up—Don’t Burn It Down: What to do When You Think You Can’t Write Another Word.” In it, I give you my best advice on how to keep going when you start to hate your manuscript.

Others—including James Scott Bell, Therese Walsh, Donald Maass, Heather Webb, Jane Friedman, David Corbett, and Lisa Cron—tackle topics like choosing your story, finding your process, productivity, characterization, writer’s block, critiques, conferences, revisions, envy, health, finding writer friends, perseverance, and publication.

There is so much goodness throughout Author In Progress that I hope you’ll check it out. Maybe add it to your holiday wish list, or put it in another writer friend’s stocking. 🙂

P.S. Several of the AIP authors—including me—participated in a Twitter chat earlier today. If you'd like to read back through the Q&A, just search for #WDchat.

What part of writing/writing life do you struggle with? Which writing books have become your virtual friend?

The secret is out: Author In Progress is coming soon(ish)

Writing Life4 Comments

paper wrapped book with "coming soon" tag

I've had such a hard time keeping this a secret, but I can finally tell you I'll be adding another nonfiction book to my oeuvre (sorry, I couldn't resist using that word). I'm part of the forthcoming Writer Unboxed (WU) collaboration published by Writer's Digest Books, Author In Progress: A no-holds-barred guide to what it really takes to get published (Hint: It's less about adverbs than you think.), edited by the awesome WU co-founder, Therese Walsh.

Due out in November (I know, not exactly around the corner), Author In Progress went up for pre-sale yesterday. The collection of essays from all of Writer Unboxed‘s regular contributors guides you through the entire process of writing a manuscript, including how to deal with the frustrations of writing and pushing through when you think your work, uh, stinks (hint: that's the section my essay's in).

I've only read my own part, so I'm excited to get my hands on it! With such an all-star cast, I'm confident the book is going to be fantastic, and I'm honored to be included.

Author In Progress is something I hope every writer—at any stage of their career—will find useful. And with the November timing, I see this on many holiday wish lists. *marks calendar for holiday giveaway*

Waiting for Scrivener class news? It'll be coming much sooner than this book. I promise. 😉 Happy writing!

I’m joining Writer Unboxed

Writing Life14 Comments

NEWS on typewriter keyboard

About three years ago—wow, time flies—I wrote a guest post about Scrivener for the Writer Unboxed (WU) website. In case you haven’t heard of it, Writer Unboxed has a regular spot on the Writer’s Digest “101 Best Websites for Writers” list.

Well, I chatted with cofounder Therese Walsh a couple of weeks ago at the WD conference, and we got to talking and…

I’m excited to announce that starting September 16th, I’ll become a quarterly contributor to the site, writing about—what else?—Scrivener. 🙂

I’ll be sure to let you know when my first post comes out. Meanwhile, if you’ve never visited, you might want to check out all of the WU greatness.

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By the way, at Kiss and Thrill this week I wrote (and posted lots of pictures) about some of the reasons I’m loving summer. Check it out and feel free to share what you like about the hot season. Enjoy the rest of yours!